Senior Transport Economist, Washington

• Organization: World Bank
• Country: United States
• City: Washington
• Office: World Bank HQ Washington

The World Bank | 1818 H St NW | Washington, DC 20006 | Tel: (202) 473-1000

Closing date: Thursday, 25 August 2016

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Grade
Location Washington, DC
Recruitment Type International Hire
Language Requirement English [Essential]
Closing Date 25-Aug-2016
Background / General description
The World Bank Group's Transport and ICT Global Practice (T&I GP) seeks to improve virtual and physical connectivity of developing countries to promote economic and social development. It responds to the needs of developing countries and transition economies for modern and reliable transport and ICT solutions. These needs are growing exponentially under the combined effect of globalization, population growth, urbanization, economic development, and technological progress - making transport and ICT a cornerstone of the global development agenda.
To serve our clients, the T&I GP offers comprehensive financial and technical assistance solutions. This includes the entire range of financial instruments (loans, zero to low-interest credits, grants, and guarantees), the facilitation of financing through trust fund partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donors, reimbursable advisory services, and comprehensive knowledge offerings. T&I manages an active World Bank transport portfolio of $41 billion and ICT portfolio of $1.5 billion (as of Aug 26th, 2015), making the WB the largest provider of development finance for transport globally.
The Practice is led by a Senior Director and a Director, supported by six Regional Practice Managers (PMs) for the delivery of transport operations and analytical and advisory work, two PMs in charge of ICT operations, one PM in charge of knowledge and operational support, one Lead Economist, and five Global Solutions Group Leaders managing knowledge offerings in areas, such as development corridors and regional integration, road asset management and rural accessibility, road safety, urban mobility, and broadband access for all. The T&I leadership team further includes staff leading the agenda on railway development, air transport, mainstreaming ICT, green transport and ICT, leveraging the private sector, gender, jobs and FCV. To execute our work program, T&I has also established important partnerships inside and outside the WBG, including with other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
The Europe (EUR) Unit comprises of 25 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 450 million people, most are IBRD eligible. Although 11 of our clients have joined the EU and 7 of these have graduated, most continue to remain active recipients of knowledge and/or lending services. Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs) reflect this strong diversity with substantial variation in lending prospects, but strong demand for Bank technical services is present across the board. The Transport unit in EUR (GTI03) has a rapidly growing portfolio of operations that target support to client countries that can be broadly divided into two groups: (i) those influenced by EU policies for transport; and (ii) those with policies inherited from the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Countries that are already members of the EU or have medium to long term membership goals have shaped their transport strategies to align with EU policies. In FSU countries, transport strategies are largely influenced by the consequences of the breakup of the Soviet Union with significant backlog in investment needs required to restore and modernize their transport infrastructure.
The Transport Unit is thus expanding its support to programs in our clients in both low-income and middle income countries, to address the challenges of economic growth, environmental sustainability and trade competitiveness. In the EU member states, more emphasis is being placed on engagement through reimbursable knowledge services to complement a limited number of traditional operations (lending and AAA).
The incumbent will report to the Practice Manager.
Note
If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities
The primary duties of the assignment will be to

• Manage a portion of GTI03's transport portfolio (with responsibilities over a variety of analytical services and advisory (ASA) in transport and preparation of new operations every year), including development and management of Reimbursable Advisory Services and ASA activities, and project preparation and supervision;
• Manage and develop knowledge in several thematic areas relating to transport economics, urban transport, road, rail and port economics, which may include transport sector expenditures, asset management, urban mobility, road and rail sector governance, performance based management, transport sector efficiency and sectoral policy;
• Support capacity development in the pertinent implementing entities through sector economics and policy dialogue in the design and implementation of enhancements to transport infrastructure and transport services and operations, and address potential social and economic externalities;
• Oversee technical work on economics of climate change and transport in ECA, including innovation, resilience and mitigation in transport projects;
• Engage transport sector entities at both the central and sub-national levels, as relevant, in developing RAS and ASA.

The assignment will also focus on the following accountabilities

• Develop and manage policy dialogue in a selected number of countries on transport sector policy and economics,
• Supporting the formulation and implementation of policy and institutional reforms and capacity building initiatives in the transport sector in cooperation with responsible entities at the central and sub-national levels, as relevant, and with other partners.

Task management will include

• Develop and supervise RAS and ASA tasks, and supervise implementation of selected transport projects; emphasis on getting results on the ground, managing fiduciary and safeguards responsibilities, and ensuring compliance with the Bank guidelines and the provisions of loan/credit agreements.
• Develop and manage RAS and key analytical activities in the transport sector.
• Contribute to the work of other teams or Global Practices to enhance the quality of project design, implementation, and supervision, and of analytical services.
• Stay engaged with the CMUs to provide as necessary advice on cross-sectoral issues. Knowledge support and staff mentoring
• Stay abreast of key developments in transport economics, policy, planning, governance, and financing, and in cross-cutting issues affecting the performance of the transport sector, such as: climate change, logistics, governance frameworks. In carrying out those duties, the appointee will (a) work effectively with GTI03 units and staff in both Washington and in the relevant country offices; (b) ensure effective collaboration and partnership between Government, the World Bank, and other donors in the transport sector; and (c) contribute to GTI03's portfolio development, performance and its integration with other projects, programs, and activities as well as national programs, strategies, and priorities.

Selection Criteria
Minimum Education/Experience

• Advanced degree (at least Masters or PhD) in transportation economics, economics or equivalent.

Preferred Education

• Advanced degree (at least Masters or PhD) in transportation economics, economics or equivalent.

Selection Criteria
Minimum Education/Experience

• At least 8 years of experience in the Bank or elsewhere in transport, with demonstrated track record in analytical and advisory work;
• Strong analytical and operational experience, including experience in preparing and implementing Bank RAS, ASA and projects;
• Proven strategic skills and ability to work in teams across sector lines, and to integrate economic and financial elements in helping clients formulate strategies, and viable implementation sequences;
• Demonstrated track record of successful business development activities, particularly for analytical and advisory work;
• In-depth background with adequate education, experience and demonstrated competence in one of these areas: Transport Economics, Urban Transport Policy, Strategy and Institutions, Transport Finance.
• Fluency in English essential. Knowledge of Russian will be an added advantage.
• Experience with EU transport regulation, policies and structural funds and EU trust funds desirable.

WBG COMPETENCIES

• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients' stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions - Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.

Required Competencies

• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills- Possesses Cross-country knowledge in economic specialty and demonstrates ability to link the macro, institutional, and micro-level behaviors; able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena- Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills- Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills- Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Transport Economics- Deep understanding of most of the economic concepts relevant to transport, with significant experience.
• Transport Policy, Strategy, and Institutions- Solid understanding of transport policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions with others.
• Deliver Results for Clients- Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries- Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge- Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
• Make Smart Decisions- Recommends and takes decisive action.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.